C.J. Miller

General advice dictates sending one query letter at a time and waiting for a response before sending another one. Response times vary - I've had 1 week waits and I've had 6 month waits. Unsure what to do about the following. January 2009 - I sent a query (with SASE) for book#1 to Editor June 2009 - I hadn't received a response. Got a chance to talk to the Editor of that line, and she said to resend query for book#1 if I hadn't heard in 4 months. June 2009 - Since it had been six months, I resent my query for book#1 (with SASE) June 2009 - won contest and was invited to send query for book#2. July 2009 - mailed query for book#2 (with SASE). October 2009 - received form letter rejection not mentioning the title of the book (Dear Writer...). Which book was rejected? Book#1? Book#2? Both? As a writer, I try to be respectful of editors/agents time and not bother them with redundant queries, but in this case, I don't know how to proceed. I feel as though I can'...

Kylie Brant, who writes for Silhouette Romantic Suspense and Berkley Sensation is holding a contest on her website, inviting aspiring writers to enter to win mentoring time with her. Her current series, The Mind Hunters, is available for order from Amazon - The Mindhunters Contest Details Here Great opportunity!

I didn't get a request (for a partial or full). The editor mentioned I could make some revisions and send in a query/ synopsis. And I found out the response time for queries is 3 months, meaning the one I sent in January was probably lost. Like Dora in Little Nemo, "keep swimming, keep swimming."

The editors at Silhouette Desire selected my log line, along with eight others, to pitch on Wednesday. I was thrilled to be chosen and my friends and family got a "THEY PICKED ME!" email on Friday, no further explanation needed. Lots of exciting possibilities - a request for a partial or a full (!) followed by a personalized rejection (advice to improve) or offer of publication (The Call). I am trying to keep my hopes under wraps, but I'm a writer and my imagination routinely runs wild.

Silhouette Desire editors are holding another pitch contest in June! A few of my favorite authors got their start with Desire this way, so I'm thrilled with this opportunity. I saw the contest announced on one of the eharlequin forum threads at the beginning of the year and I've been working on my manuscript and log line since then. My critique partner has read my manuscript and I'm working on my third revision, in addition to refining my log line. I have nearly four pages of log lines, but I'm not quite satisfied with any of them yet. Some of the past winners have posted their winning log lines online. From what I've read on the forums and from winner's websites, the logline must convey a strong sense of conflict as well as set up an interesting twist on a classic contemporary romance plot line. It's a little stressful, but a lot of fun!